Rachael Coker
Rachael is a licensed clinical social work therapist who is passionate about helping people navigate life's challenges, reconnect with themselves, and move toward becoming the most authentic version of who they are. She believes that every person has the capacity for growth and change, even when life experiences, trauma, or difficult circumstances make that feel out of reach. Rachael approaches her work with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the unique experiences and strengths each individual brings into the therapeutic space. Beyond her clinical work, Rachael considers herself an advocate and an ally. She is passionate about creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and equitable world and hopes to leave the world a little better than she found it. These values are woven into her therapeutic work, where she strives to create an environment in which people feel accepted, empowered, and supported in showing up as their whole selves. She believes everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued, and that meaningful healing can happen when people are met with understanding rather than judgment.
Rachael has developed a thoughtful and intentional ability to foster self-awareness, identify patterns, ask meaningful questions, and gently challenge clients when it may serve their growth.
Rachael draws from a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy and instead thoughtfully integrates these modalities based on each client's individual needs, experiences, and goals. Whether working to process trauma, navigate difficult emotions, recognize unhelpful patterns, or develop a deeper understanding of oneself, Rachael aims to meet clients where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be.
First session
In the first session, Rachael's primary goal is to create a welcoming, comfortable space where clients can begin to feel at ease and get a sense of what it might be like to work together. She recognizes that starting therapy can feel vulnerable, unfamiliar, or even a little intimidating, and she does not expect clients to arrive with everything figured out. Instead, she approaches the first session with curiosity, patience, and an openness to wherever the client is in their journey. Rachael will ask gentle, thoughtful questions to better understand each client's history, experiences, strengths, challenges, and hopes for therapy. She is interested not only in what has brought someone into therapy, but also in who they are beyond their struggles. She wants to understand what has helped them navigate difficult experiences, what matters most to them, and what they hope might feel different in their lives. From there, Rachael works collaboratively with clients to identify meaningful goals and develop a treatment plan that reflects their individual needs, values, and preferences. She believes therapy should be a partnership rather than a prescribed process, and clients are always encouraged to have a voice in the direction and pace of their work. There is no expectation to share more than feels comfortable or to have a clear roadmap from the beginning. Rachael understands that goals can evolve over time and views the therapeutic process as something that can be revisited and adjusted as clients grow and their needs change. Ultimately, Rachael hopes clients leave their first session feeling heard, respected, and a little more comfortable with the possibility of what therapy can offer. Her intention is to begin building a relationship rooted in trust, collaboration, and the understanding that clients do not have to navigate their experiences alone.
Strengths
Rachael takes a balanced, compassionate, and collaborative approach to therapy. She believes that the therapeutic process belongs to the client and makes a point of reminding individuals that this is their time, their journey, and ultimately, they are in the driver's seat. She strives to create a space where clients feel safe, respected, and free to show up as they are, without pressure or judgment. Rachael recognizes that sometimes the most meaningful thing a therapist can offer is simply the space to be heard, witnessed, and understood. She is comfortable sitting with clients in difficult emotions and allowing room for experiences to unfold without rushing toward solutions. At the same time, she understands that growth often requires more than a listening ear. She has developed a thoughtful and intentional ability to foster self-awareness, identify patterns, ask meaningful questions, and gently challenge clients when it may serve their growth. She aims to strike a balance between honoring where clients are and helping them explore where they might want to go. Rachael values authenticity, curiosity, and the therapeutic relationship itself. She believes meaningful change happens when clients feel both supported and empowered to explore the parts of themselves that may be difficult to face. Her goal is not to dictate a path forward, but to walk alongside clients as they develop a deeper understanding of themselves, strengthen their relationship with their own needs, and move toward a more connected and intentional way of living.
Ideal clients
Rachael welcomes the opportunity to work with individuals from all walks of life, recognizing that each person brings their own unique experiences, identities, challenges, and hopes into the therapeutic space. She enjoys supporting clients with a wide range of concerns and goals, whether they are navigating a difficult life transition, working through relationship challenges, seeking greater self-understanding, or simply wanting to feel more grounded and connected in their day-to-day lives. Rachael believes therapy can be valuable at many different points in life and does not believe there is a particular threshold of struggle someone must reach before they deserve support. While she enjoys the variety of experiences and concerns that come with working alongside different individuals, trauma, anxiety, and nervous system regulation are especially close to her heart. Rachael is deeply interested in understanding how our experiences, particularly those involving trauma and chronic stress, shape the ways we think, feel, relate, and move through the world. She recognizes that the effects of trauma are not always obvious and can show up in unexpected ways, influencing everything from emotional responses and relationships to our sense of safety and connection with ourselves. Rachael is passionate about helping clients better understand their nervous systems, recognize patterns that may have once served as important survival strategies, and develop new ways of responding to life's challenges. She believes healing is not about erasing the past or simply learning to manage symptoms, but about building a greater sense of safety, self-trust, and flexibility. Her hope is to help clients move beyond simply surviving and toward experiencing a life that feels more connected, intentional, and fulfilling.
Origin story
Rachael identifies as a trauma therapist, with a special interest in nervous system regulation and the ways our experiences shape how we move through the world. She is particularly interested in helping clients understand the connection between their emotional experiences, bodily responses, and patterns of relating to themselves and others. Her approach is grounded in the belief that healing involves more than simply understanding our stories; it also means developing a sense of safety, reconnecting with ourselves, and learning to navigate life with greater ease and self-compassion. Rachael's inspiration to become a therapist was shaped by a convergence of personal experiences, professional interests, and a longstanding curiosity about the human experience. Over time, she developed a deep appreciation for the complexity of people's stories and the many ways individuals adapt, survive, and find meaning in the face of adversity. This interest continues to inform her work, fostering a therapeutic space where clients can feel seen, understood, and supported as they explore their experiences, build resilience, and move toward meaningful change.
Ongoing work together
Rachael believes progress in therapy looks different for everyone, and it rarely follows a straight line. While some clients may notice changes in their symptoms, others may recognize progress in smaller, less obvious ways. It might look like becoming more aware of emotional patterns, recognizing triggers, setting boundaries, asking for what they need, or responding to difficult situations with greater intention rather than automatically falling into familiar patterns. For clients working through trauma or anxiety, progress may also mean developing a better understanding of their nervous system and recognizing when they are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or activated. It can look like feeling more comfortable sitting with difficult emotions, recovering more quickly after stressful experiences, or beginning to experience a greater sense of safety within themselves and their relationships. Rachael also encourages clients to recognize that progress isn't measured by perfection or the absence of struggle. Sometimes growth means catching yourself after an old pattern has emerged, being kinder to yourself on a difficult day, or realizing that something that once felt impossible is becoming a little more manageable. There may be setbacks, uncomfortable moments, and periods when progress feels hard to see. These experiences are not necessarily signs that therapy isn't working. Throughout the therapeutic relationship, Rachael checks in with clients about how they feel therapy is going, what feels helpful, and where they might want to shift focus. She believes clients should have an active voice in recognizing and defining their own progress. Ultimately, the hope is that clients begin to feel more connected to themselves, more confident in their ability to navigate life's challenges, and increasingly empowered to live in ways that feel authentic and meaningful to them.
Treatment methods
EMDR
Rachael incorporates Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) into her work with clients who are interested in processing traumatic or distressing experiences. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals work through experiences that may feel unresolved or continue to influence their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and responses in the present. Sometimes, experiences from the past can leave us feeling stuck, as though our minds and bodies are still responding to something that happened long ago. EMDR can help the brain reprocess these experiences so they feel less overwhelming and hold less emotional charge.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Rachael incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into her work with clients who want to better understand the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. CBT is an evidence-based approach that recognizes how the way we interpret and respond to experiences can influence how we feel and behave. Sometimes, we develop patterns of thinking that contribute to anxiety, self-doubt, emotional distress, or feeling stuck. These patterns may have developed as ways of coping with difficult experiences, but over time, they can become less helpful or limiting.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Rachael incorporates Internal Family Systems (IFS) into her work with clients who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of themselves, their emotional experiences, and the different parts of themselves that influence how they navigate the world. IFS is a therapeutic approach based on the idea that we all have different parts within us, each with its own feelings, beliefs, needs, and ways of responding to life. These parts often develop in response to our experiences, particularly difficult or traumatic ones, and may take on different roles in an effort to protect us from pain or vulnerability. Through IFS, Rachael helps clients become curious about these different parts rather than judging, suppressing, or fighting against them. For example, a part of someone may be highly critical, another may work hard to keep everyone happy, while another may withdraw or avoid difficult emotions. Even when these responses feel frustrating or unhelpful, they often developed for a reason. Rachael helps clients explore what these parts might be trying to communicate, what they may be protecting, and what they might need.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Rachael incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into her work with clients who want to develop healthier ways of managing emotions, navigating relationships, and responding to life's challenges. DBT is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on building practical skills to help individuals better understand and regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and communicate their needs effectively. At its core, DBT is built around the idea that two things can be true at once: we can accept ourselves as we are while also recognizing opportunities for growth and change.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Rachael incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her work with clients who want to develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions while moving toward a life that feels more meaningful and aligned with who they are. ACT is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on psychological flexibility, or the ability to make room for difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences without allowing them to dictate how we live. Rather than trying to eliminate uncomfortable emotions or gain complete control over our internal experiences, ACT encourages us to change how we relate to them.